State of the Water September 14, 2015 Towns County Recreation & Conference Center
Freshwater Resources (3%) Rivers/Lakes/ Streams 0.3% Underground 30.8% Ice-locked 68.9%
Water for Life • Only 3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater • Water is not evenly distributed on Earth. • Our bodies contain ~10 gallons of water; we need to replace ~2 quarts per day • An average European uses ~53 gallons/day; an average American uses ~152 gal/day • Around 70% of all crops grown depend entirely on irrigation water
What is a Watershed?
Nashville Atlanta Birmingham
Map of the Upper Hiwassee River Basin
What is Water Quality? Physical Chemical Biological Habitat
Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin 1. Excess Sediment 2. Excess Nutrients 3. Pathogens (e.g. E. coli ) 4. Too much runoff!
We want to prevent this!
WQ Concerns – Bank Erosion
WQ Concerns – Construction
WQ Concerns – Development of Steep Slopes
WQ Concerns – Loss of Riparian Buffers & Channelization
Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin Excess Sediment 1. Excess Nutrients 2. Pathogens (e.g. E.coli ) 3. Too much runoff! 4.
We want to prevent this!
And this!
WQ Concerns – Agriculture
Water Quality Concerns Leaking & Failing Septic Systems
WQ Concerns – Geese
WQ Concerns – Managed Turf
WQ Concerns – Lack of Buffers
Major Water Quality Concerns in the Hiwassee River Basin Excess Sediment 1. Excess Nutrients 2. Pathogens (e.g. E.coli ) 3. Too much runoff! 4.
WQ Concerns – Impervious Surfaces Roads and Parking Lots Driveways and Rooftops
WQ Concerns - Changing Hydrology I ncreased Runoff I ncreased Pollutants I mpacts to Stream Banks Habitat Degradation
Use Impairment Data (every 2 years)
State Biological Data (5-year cycle)
Volunteer Monitoring (monthly!) 10+ years data from 21 sites; currently 31 active sites! www.georgiaadoptastream.com
TVA Ecological Health Ratings (? Interval) Chatuge: Poor in 2012 Nottely: Poor in 2011 Hiwassee: Fair in 2012 Apalachia: Good in 2012
Water Quality Overview
E. Coli - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Hiwassee River in Clay County appears to be meeting water quality standards for recreation! Lake Chatuge is still safe for swimming! • Valley River bacterial contamination is more limited in scope than it originally appeared; however, there is much work to be done in order for it to be recreationally safe for kids in Andrews or Murphy. × Nottely River does have a significant bacterial contamination issue upstream of the lake. × It appears that Butternut Creek at the Union Co. Farmers Market is also significantly contaminated.
NCDENR Fish Sampling Highlights Brasstown still rated Good! Martins Creek Good for the 1 st time since 2004!! New site, Rapier Mill Creek rated Poor Persimmon Cr still rated Poor No change at other sites in the Good to Good/Fair range Valley River needs more biological data!
New Bridge in Young Harris!
Contact Information 90 T ennessee Street, Ste. D (Lewis Jones Nationwide Insurance Bldg.) 828-837-5414 – Phone & Fax cmoore@hrwc.net www.hrwc.net
Major HRWC Program Areas
Education – Past Year • Working with Schools – Murphy H.S. AP Environmental Science – Kids in the Creek for Hayesville 8 th grade – River Walk Earth Week events – TLC Service Learning • GA Mtn Research & Education Center Field Days (3 days in May; 1 in Sept) • C.R.E.E.K. Summer Youth Education • Regional Sediment & Erosion Control Initiative (NC grading contractors) • Shade Your Stream – Funding from Duke Energy
Citizen Involvement – Past Year • Adopt-A-Stream Program – 3 recertification events (2 in Nottely watershed) – Training workshops in June & coming up in October – Added six new sites to the system! • Alternative Spring Break Program – Saginaw Valley State University (MI) – Grand Valley State University (MI) – Bowling Green State University (OH) – University of North Florida (FL) • Volunteer workdays, festival booths • 20 th Anniversary Celebration planning
Restoration – Past Year • Brasstown Creek riparian enhancement with Alternative Spring Break students • Butternut Creek riparian enhancement with ASB; also Ramp Day education event • Town Creek (Hayesville) – Completed design for stormwater BMP – Planned bank stabilization that will happen this fall – Helped CCCRA with native plant signage • Technical Assistance – Six calls this year; two projects as a result
Restoration (cont’d) – Past Year • Valley River – ASB students worked in Andrews at Cherokee County Heritage Park – Kudzu outbreak along Valley River in Andrews at Heritage Park treated – Projects planned at Valley River Park in Andrews & at the mouth of Taylor Creek on Valley River – Morgan Creek Stream Restoration Project completed!!
Lakes Program – Past Year • Lake Chatuge – Hosted educational forum about aquatic weeds – Secured funding from Rotary Club for shoreline stabilization & educational kiosk – Held 4 th Annual Rivers Alive clean-up – Designed a goose hunting workshop (Nov 10) • Helped publicize other clean-ups & other events sponsored by LNIA • Continued to support water quality monitoring program
Big Picture – Past Year • Public Access Improvements – New canoe/kayak put-in in Hayesville completed – Land donation for new access on Valley River – Union Co. installed new put-in at Meeks Park – Outings program • Bacterial Monitoring Program • National Forest Work – Nantahala Forest Plan revision – Fires Creek inholding comments/objection • Organizational Sustainability – Possible new permanent office in our future?
Your Input! Pink = highest priority Orange = 2 nd highest priority Yellow = 3 rd highest priority Green = 4 th highest priority Thank you for your attendance, participation & support!!
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